May 21,2010/-Kingston’s hospitals celebrated the announcement today of a $72,500 gift from the Prostate Cancer Fight Foundation (PCFF) to University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, the fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital (KGH), and Providence Care.

The gift will be directed to three Kingston General Hospital prostate cancer research projects led by Drs. Susan Cole, Robert Siemans and Deb Feldman-Stewart. The donation was funded through proceeds from the annual Motorcycle Ride 4 Dad. 

In announcing the gift today, Alison Pinkerton, Co-Chair of the Kingston-Quinte Motorcycle Ride 4 Dad: Fighting Prostate Cancer Organizing Committee, spoke of her late father, Charlie Pester, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1993 and battled the disease for five years until July 19, 1998.
 
“Ten years ago, in Ottawa, the first Motorcycle Ride 4 Dad was organized in my dad’s honour. I’m proud to say that this annual event now takes place in 25 cities across Canada, involves hundreds of volunteers, and has raised over $5 million to support prostate cancer research.”
Dr. Roger Deeley, Vice President of Health Sciences Research at Kingston General Hospital, on behalf of the prostate cancer research team, thanked the PCFF for their generous contribution, “Your gifts provide us with the seed money we need to develop new research and treatment methods and improve the quality of life of your friends and loved ones.”

The $70-million Together We Can campaign is the largest and most important health care fundraising initiative in the history of Southeastern Ontario. Led by the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation, the joint fundraising arm for Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Care, the campaign will raise money for the redevelopment of our hospitals, the purchasing of equipment and the funding of medical research and staff education. To find out more about giving opportunities or to make a donation call 613-549-5452 or toll-free 866-549-5452 or go online to www.kingstonhospitalsfoundation.ca.

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Contact: 

Mary Crawford, University Hospitals Kingston Foundation
Phone: (613) 549-5452, Ext. 5918
Email: mary.crawford@uhkf.ca